I watched the scene unfold before me, feeling like my heart was being torn apart alive.

The two sons I'd nearly died giving birth to were pushing Kael toward another woman right in front of me.

Kael kissed Sage for a long time before pulling away, a thin strand of intimacy connecting their lips.

Sage's cheeks were flushed red as she lowered her head shyly.

"Sorry," Kael's voice was slightly hoarse. "I lost my balance just then."

Then he turned to River and Stone with a stern expression. "What the hell are you two doing?"

Though his tone was harsh, I knew him too well. He was more satisfied with that kiss than anyone.

Kael looked at me and explained, "That was an accident. The kids were just messing around. Don't take it personally."

I shook my head calmly. "I don't mind."

And I really didn't mind anymore.

Because I was done with all three of them—the father and both sons.

After we got off the Ferris wheel, everyone went to watch the parade. Under the brilliant night lights, amid laughter and cheers, the floats slowly approached.

But just then, the horses pulling one of the floats suddenly spooked, whinnying as they charged toward the crowd!

"Watch out!"

In the chaos, I saw Kael and the two children immediately throw themselves toward Sage, shielding her protectively.

While I stood there and got knocked down by the panicking crowd.

After nearly dying from blood loss giving birth to those two children, my wolf had fallen into a permanent coma. So now I was basically like an Omega—no fighting ability, not even any healing powers.

"Ahhh—!"

Excruciating pain hit me as horse hooves trampled over my ribs and wheels rolled across my legs.

I clearly heard the sound of my own bones breaking.

Everything went black, and I passed out completely.

...

When I woke up again, the hospital room was dead silent.

I struggled to sit up, cold sweat pouring down my face from the intense pain in my ribs and legs.

I reached for my phone on the bedside table to check the time.

The screen lit up, showing a social media notification on the lock screen—

Sage had posted a photo.

Kael and the two children were gathered around her hospital bed. One was holding a glass of water, another had medicine, and Kael was gently tucking her blanket.

The caption read: 【It feels so good to be loved.】

I pulled my lips into a bitter smile and put the phone down.

A doctor came in, flipping through test results. "Ms. Aria, you have three broken ribs and a hairline fracture in your left tibia. You'll need to stay for observation for a few days."

He looked around the empty room. "Where's your family? We need a family member to sign."

I said calmly, "I don't have any family."

For the next few days, the hospital room remained empty.

The nurses looked at me with pity, occasionally sneaking me an extra box of painkillers.

Kael didn't show up until my discharge day.

"Sage was traumatized and couldn't be left alone these past few days," he said flatly. "How are your injuries? Do you need to stay longer? I could bring the kids to take care of you."

I shook my head. "No need. I don't want to waste your time."

Kael frowned slightly.

In the past, whenever he was busy with work but managed to spare even an hour for me, I'd be happy for days. Now I was actively refusing?

But he didn't think much of it and had the driver take us to a high-end boutique in the city center.

The store was brilliantly lit as Kael held up various gowns against my body.

I thought he was trying to compensate me and said softly, "You don't need to. I don't really like any of these..."

"Don't like what?" Kael interrupted. "Sage's birthday is coming up, and I want to get her the perfect custom gown."

He studied my figure. "You and she are about the same size, so I brought you to try them on."

I laughed.

Laughed at my own wishful thinking, laughed at how Kael knew exactly where to stick the knife to hurt me most.

For the next three hours, I was like a mannequin as Kael had me try on gown after gown.

Finally, he settled on a mermaid-style dress covered in crystals.

"This one."

When we got home, Kael tossed me a paper bag. "Got this for you while I was at it."

I glanced inside. It was a freebie that came with the custom gown—a plain black dress with a tag that read "Free Gift with Purchase."

I took it and gave a flat "mm-hmm."

Back in my room, I threw it straight into the trash.

For the next few days, I barely left my room except to eat.

I just wanted the cooling-off period for the divorce to pass quickly, turning a blind eye to how Kael and his sons bent over backward to please Sage.

Soon, Sage's birthday arrived.

Kael had wanted to throw a grand party, but Sage gently refused. "Let's just celebrate at home. I don't like things too fancy."

River immediately chimed in. "Perfect! I don't like outsiders sucking up to us either. It's so much better with just our family!"

On her birthday, the mansion was decorated luxuriously yet warmly. The staff bustled around while Kael personally placed a birthday crown on Sage's head.

"Make a wish." His gaze was tender.

Sage clasped her hands together and closed her eyes in the candlelight.

After blowing out the candles, Kael and the two children presented their gifts.

Kael gave her a set of antique jewelry, River presented keys to a limited-edition sports car, and Stone proudly offered the deed to a private island.

Sage's eyes filled with tears of emotion. "Thank you all..."

She suddenly looked at me, where I'd been sitting silently, with a sweet smile. "Aria, what did you get me?"

All eyes turned to me.

I looked at Sage's expectant expression and said calmly, "I didn't prepare anything."

I didn't want to, and I wasn't about to.

River's face immediately darkened. "Mom! How could you? You knew it was Aunt Sage's birthday!"

Stone pouted too. "That's so rude!"

The two little ones exchanged glances, and River's eyes suddenly lit up. "Hey, doesn't Mom have tons of nice stuff Dad gave her in her room? Let's pick something for Aunt Sage!"

Stone nodded eagerly. "Yeah!"

Before I could react, both children had already rushed upstairs and straight to my bedroom.

"Wait!" My face went pale as I stumbled after them, not caring that my leg hadn't fully healed.

When I pushed open the door, the two children were ransacking my room. My jewelry box was overturned on the floor, and things from my drawers were scattered everywhere.

"Found it!" River suddenly held up a gold necklace with a small moon pendant. "This one's pretty!"

My pupils contracted. That was the last gift Finn had given me before he died.

"No!" I rushed over to grab it back. "That's from your uncle!"

River nimbly dodged aside. "It's just a necklace. Can't Uncle buy you another one later?"

My voice shook. "He's dead!"

Stone rolled his eyes impatiently. "You're lying again! Last time it was just a dummy. Our real uncle is obviously traveling! He promised to bring me a present!"

Then he leaned over the railing and shouted downstairs, "Aunt Sage! We found Mom's present for you! You're gonna love it!"

I reached for the necklace, but River shoved me hard. "Why are you being so stingy!"

"Ahhhh—!"

I lost my footing and tumbled down the entire staircase!

"CRASH!"

The back of my head slammed hard against the silver candelabra that decorated the bottom of the steps, and blood immediately gushed from my temple.

This was a fatal blow to me since the wolf had already fallen into hibernation.

I lay in a pool of blood, my vision blurry and ears ringing.

"Mommy!" River and Stone were terrified and rushed downstairs.

River's voice trembled. "I... I didn't mean to... It's your fault for trying to grab it..."

Stone burst into tears. "Mommy, you're bleeding..."

Hearing the commotion, Kael strode over. His face went ashen when he saw the scene. "What the hell happened?"

River sobbed as he explained, "We just wanted to find a necklace for Aunt Sage... Mom wouldn't let us, and she tried to grab it... I accidentally..."

Kael crouched down to help me up. "Where are you hurt? I'll take you to the hospital."

The two children also scrambled to help.

Just then—

"Ahhhh!"

A scream came from the dining room, and a maid ran over in panic. "Alpha! Miss Sage got burned by the candles!"

Kael froze mid-motion.

"How bad is it?" he asked urgently.

"A huge burn..."

Before the maid could finish, Kael was already standing up. "Aria, call an ambulance yourself. We need to get Sage to the hospital first."

The two children immediately let go of my hands too. "Mom, you go to the hospital by yourself!"

"Kael... River... Stone..."

I weakly reached out, but all three of them rushed toward the dining room without looking back, carefully helping Sage leave.

Blood blurred my vision as I tremblingly pulled out my phone and used my last bit of strength to dial 911.

"Help... me..."

The moment the call connected, I fell into complete darkness.

When I woke up again, the hospital room was still empty.

A nurse came in to change my bandages. Seeing I was awake, she sighed. "Your mate and children are in the VIP room next door taking care of Miss Sage."

She paused, her tone carrying some indignation. "Miss Sage only has a small red mark on the back of her hand, but they're making such a fuss. Alpha Kael is personally applying medicine for her, the older boy is blowing on her wound, and the younger one even went to buy ice cream to cheer her up. You're hurt so badly, but..."

I listened quietly, my heart already numb from the pain.

My phone buzzed, and the screen lit up.

It was a reminder text from the Alpha Council: 【The mate bond severance has been approved. You may receive your mate bond severance certificate in three days.】

I stared at that message for a long time, then suddenly smiled.

Finally, it would be over.

After being discharged, I began preparing to leave.

On the first day, I went to the cemetery.

Next to my parents' headstones, a small new marker had been erected—Finn's.

I knelt before the grave, gently wiping the young, smiling face in the photo.

"Mom, Dad, Finn..." My voice was soft. "I loved the wrong person."

"I shouldn't have fallen for Kael, shouldn't have had those two children..."

I smiled, tears silently falling. "I'm leaving... This time, I really don't want them anymore. I'll live well for the rest of my days. You take care down there too, don't worry about me. Years from now, we'll meet again underground."

The mountain wind lifted my long hair, and the white chrysanthemums in front of the headstone trembled slightly, as if responding to me.

On the second day, I went to Lovers' Bridge.

Years ago, Kael and I had hung a love lock there, engraved with both our names.

I found that lock and viciously cut it with pliers, throwing it into the river.

The moment the metal hit the water, I seemed to hear the laughter of my younger self.

How ridiculous—vows of "eternal love" apparently only had a five-year shelf life.

After that, I visited every place where Kael and I had shared memories—

Our usual restaurant, the park where we had our first date, the church where we got married...

Bit by bit, I erased all traces of our love.

Back home, I packed up all the gifts Kael had given me over the years and threw them in the trash.

Finally, I packed my luggage, just waiting to get the Alpha Council's approval to sever our mate bond tomorrow before leaving for good.